Korean Lunar New Year’s Day in 2018 Posted by Kyung-Hwa on Feb 14, 2018 in Uncategorized, Vocabulary
Thursday, February 15 is Seollal (설날 – Lunar New Year’s Day), one of the most celebrated Korean holiday. If you are around Korean people, you will hear their excitement regarding 설날. This post will introduce vocabulary related to this special Korean holiday, so you will be able to enjoy the festivities with them and also wish them a ‘Happy New Year’ in Korean.
If you are not familiar with 설날, please follow this link ‘Celebrating Korean Lunar New Year’s Day’ and also ‘Don’t Go to Sleep on New Year’s Eve’.
The following list of vocabulary is based on this wonderful YouTube video that explains the history, tradition, and vocabulary relating to 설날.
- Seol-lal (설날 – Lunar New Year’s Day)
- ga-la-ddeok (가래떡 – rice cake is the main ingredient of 떡국 )
- ddeok-guk (떡국 – rice cake soup that Korean people eat on 설날 )
- Seol-bim (설빔 – new clothes and generally refers to 한복 on 설날)
- Je-sa (제사 – ritual that is dedicated to ancestors)
- Cha-rye (차례 – 제사 performed on holidays)
- Jeon (전 – Korean style pancakes with meant or vegetables )
- eum-bok (음복 – sharing food and the liquor served to ancestors after 제사)
- se-ba (새배 – a deep formal bow that younger members of the family show respect to the elders )
- Se-he-bok-man-i-bat-eu-se-yo! (새해 복 많이 받으세요! – Happy New Year!)
- se-ba-don (새배돈 – money that elders hand to younger members of the family after receiving새배 )
- bok-jo-ri (복조리 – a kitchen utensil that is used to wash and dip up rice)
- ga-jok (가족 – family )
- je-gi-cha-gi (제기차기 – similar to a shuttlecock that is used for a outdoor game in Korea )
- Yut-nol-i (윷놀이 – Korean traditional game that uses four sticks, four tokens, and a board)
- Yeon-nal-li-gi (연날리기 – kite flying )
As this video explains, 설날 is one of the most important holidays in Korea. This is a special day that allows Korean family members to get together, to share delicious holiday food, to connect with their ancestors, and to wish each other good health and happiness for the New Year. I hope you will be able to enjoy 설날 with your Korean friends or family members this year.
새해 복 많이 받으세요! (Happy New Year!)
감사합니다! (Thank you!)
Build vocabulary, practice pronunciation, and more with Transparent Language Online. Available anytime, anywhere, on any device.
About the Author: Kyung-Hwa
안녕하세요? My name is Kyung-Hwa, and I am a native of South Korea. I am accustomed to both English and Korean languages and cultures. I greatly appreciate and love both of them. I am passionate about learning different languages, and I have studied English, Japanese, and Spanish. In my spare time, I take joy in singing, playing the piano, and reading books. I also enjoy traveling around the world, meeting people, and embracing new cultures and languages...